01Marine Technology News2026-11-05
Equinor Launches Marine Robotics Test Center for Offshore Ops (Video) (opens in a new tab)
Equinor opened the K-lab Marine Robotics Centre (KNARR) at Norway’s Kårstø processing plant in October 2026 to test underwater robots, autonomous vessels, and related technologies for offshore operations. The facility, connected to an active plant, offers three testing areas at depths of 25, 140, and 250 meters, along with subsea cables and infrastructure for long-term sensor and drone testing. Funded with $1.73 million, the center aims to cut operational costs by hundreds of millions of kroner annually by improving efficiency and reducing reliance on larger vessels. It will support collaboration among industry partners, research institutions, and suppliers to advance autonomous offshore maintenance and monitoring.